There are photovoltaic plants in the Zillertal Arena in Zell am Ziller, Gerlos and Hochkrimml.
The three photovoltaic systems in Zell am Ziller have a total of 219.32 kWp with an expected annual yield of approx. 230,000 kWh.
The five photovoltaic systems in Gerlos generate a total of approx. 200,000 kWh per year. The latest plant at Stuanmandlbahn cable car in Gerlos can power the carbon-neutral transport of more than 640,000 people each season on Vorkogel surface lift.
The photovoltaic plant in Hochkrimml at the Plattenkogel X-Press II generates approx. 50,000 kWh per year. This corresponds to a CO2 saving of 25 tonnes per year – the same amount of CO2 that 200 medium-haul flights from Munich to Mallorca cause per person. As a result, about 3,200 trees did not have to absorb CO2. The photovoltaic plant in Hochkrimml at the Filzsteinbahnen generates approx. 16,000 kWh per year.
Outside the lift operating hours, the electricity generated is fed into the public grid. This brings both additional economic benefits and makes an active contribution to sustainable energy production.
The two reservoirs with the network’s two large power plants in Gerlos and Zell am Ziller have a combined annual output of 347.3 GWh. 27 GWh of this annually produces valuable electricity from 100% hydropower at the Funsingau storage power plant, which has been in operation since 1968. This would make Gerlos virtually self-sufficient in electricity, with the exception of peak days.
The biomass heating plant in Gerlos was commissioned in October 2013 and currently supplies 180 connected households (approx. 80%). The consumption amounts to approx. 20,000 loose cubic metres of wood chips, which in turn corresponds to approx. 7,000 solid cubic metres of firewood. Of this, the Federal Forestry Office’s annual harvest is 3,000 solid cubic metres of firewood in Gerlos. Together with the “Gmünd” project, which is currently being developed, 90% of households and accommodation establishments could be heated climate-neutrally with wood chips using renewable energy. This again accounts for 30% of a climate-neutral holiday. Furthermore, the Isskogelbahn and Dorfbahn Gerlos cable cars are also heated with district heating from wood.
The waste heat from the cable car drive is used for the Arena Center and in the Ebenfeld snow groomer garage, the waste heat from the snowmaking system’s compressors as well as its own solar system is used to generate energy.
E-mobility is a key focus in the Zillertal Arena. As of this summer, an electric vehicle is available at lake Fichtensee for clean, quiet and environmentally friendly transport up to Rosenalm. There are also a large number of e-cars in operation, used on a daily basis by directors, managers and employees of the Zillertal Arena. Wald-Königsleiten plays a pioneering role here with its e-BOB mobility programme. Visitors have access to e-cars and, in summer, e-bikes for an even better holiday.
E-charging stations in the Zillertal Arena:
All villages in the Zillertal Arena have an extensive ski bus network for free travel to and from the ski area for all visitors. The Arena cable car companies make a significant contribution to the financing of the ski bus service, helping to reduce car traffic to the cable car stations. The local transport concept is rounded off by the cable cars’ ski storage, which facilitates convenient travel by local transport.
The Arena Shuttle in Zell am Ziller is now operating as a modern e-bus this summer. This emission-free shuttle transports you environmentally friendly and comfortably from the surrounding areas directly to the Rosenalmbahn valley station. By doing so, we are making a strong commitment to sustainable public transport and actively contributing to the protection of our beautiful nature in the Zillertal. Use the Arena Shuttle for a stress-free and eco-friendly journey to your adventure in the Zillertal Arena.
Numerous measures are being implemented to sustainably improve the traffic situation in the valley within the framework of the Zillertal Mobility Plan. The holistic mobility concept includes the following key points, among others:
Every spring, we actively support reforestation work along the valley run in Zell am Ziller. The mixed forest is reforested with young firs, spruces, copper beeches and alders. Regular clean-ups in the ski area remove rubbish and make a sustainable contribution to environmental protection.
A strong focus is placed on careful and sustainable ski run construction in the Zillertal Arena. Grass sods and dwarf shrub heaths are carefully removed in certain sites, temporarily stored and replanted once the ski run construction is completed to restore the relief typical of the landscape through recultivation in the high alpine terrain. Close cooperation with specialist planners for geology, hydrology, geotechnics and experts for alpine skiing and safety on the slopes, as well as ecologically and environmentally friendly implementation, are the foundation for every ski run construction project. In Zell am Ziller, the ski run construction projects are planned and implemented together with our long-standing partner Neuhauser Erdbau & Transporte.
We in the Zillertal Arena are proud of our valley run, as it is one of the longest valley runs in Austria, which is floodlit to enhance the options and attractiveness in winter. Contrast and shade are particularly important criteria when planning ski run lighting systems. Around 3,000 to 4,000 Kelvin of warm white LED light is much more environmentally friendly and makes it possible to clearly recognise colours. That’s why we decided on this first LED lighting system in Austria for the ski run area. The use of light outdoors at night is an integral part of our way of life, regardless of the numerous restrictions. Careful use of artificial light is therefore all the more important and contributes significantly to the protection of the habitat, flora, fauna and the natural balance.
A strong focus was placed on sustainability during the construction of the Wiesenalm. In addition to a carbon-neutral pellet heating system, the waste heat from the gears of the nearby Rosenalmbahn and Karspitzbahn gondolas is also used in combination with a heat pump for heating and hot water production at the Wiesenalm. Furthermore, the Wiesenalm’s entire power supply comes from 100% renewable energy sources: firstly, the electricity is generated from our own photovoltaic system on the roof of the Rosenalmbahn cable car bottom station and secondly, all the electricity purchased from TIWAG (Tiroler Wasserkraft AG) is also 100% carbon-neutral.
The new construction of the Umbrella Bar in Gerlos took the traditional business to a new level in terms of facilities and infrastructure. The location of the Umbrella Bar alone is unique: situated on the Moseltret, guests have a spectacular panoramic view of Gerlos and the Reichenspitz mountain range. The sunny Umbrella Bar is also easy to reach by skis, ski bus or on foot.
Stichwort Sonne: The new building is heated with solar energy and biomass. This confirms once again that the path the Zillertal Arena took years ago is being constantly pursued.
Fresh cuisine as well as local and traditional dishes made from regional ingredients are particularly important to many gastronomic establishments in the Zillertal Arena. With great passion, numerous establishments embody the values of the “Bewusst Tirol”, “Tiroler Wirtshäuser”, and “Ama Genussregion” cooperations, setting visible signs for product quality and regionality. Among them are the following establishments in the Zell-Gerlos tourism region: the Landgut Zapfenhof, the Wellness- & Genießerhotel Theresa, the Restaurant Erbhofa, the Alpenwohlfühlhotel Dörflwirt, the Hotel Gaspingerhof, the Hotel Schönruh, the traditional Gasthof Bräu, the Restaurant Schulhaus Tirol as well as the Hochzeller Käsealm.
Establishments certified with the Austrian Ecolabel and the European Ecolabel - EU Ecolabel include:
The electricity demand of all cable cars in Austria amounts to 750 GWh (= just 1.2% of the total domestic energy demand) including technical snowmaking. Standby losses alone waste more than 800 GWh per year in Austria.